‘Freakish’ Snyman leaves huge void
TRAGEDY is a term that never sits well when describing setbacks in the sporting world. A long-term injury is a cruel blow, but in the grand scheme of things — especially in current times — it’s always good to have some perspective.
‘Devastating’ was how Stephen Larkham described RG Snyman’s potentially season-ending ACL injury yesterday. You could forgive that hyperbole down Munster way at the moment because there was something almost Shakespearean about the way things played out last week.
Just days after another worrying update on Joey Carbery’s troublesome ankle was dispatched, Snyman lasted just seven minutes into his eagerlyanticipated debut. The two X-factor players who were supposed to help Munster bridge the gap to the European heavyweights both out of the reckoning indefinitely. Tragic.
It’s yet another cruel blow for Johann van Graan. The hype around Snyman was thoroughly justified. His performances at the World Cup held much promise before his superhuman efforts in Japan’s Top League sent the Twittersphere into meltdown. Snyman seemingly had all the elements to make him a Munster legend. He had the physique and the skills, but there was also a mean edge, which is always appreciated around Thomond Park. You could just imagine him causing mayhem on a big Saturday night in the Champions Cup, grappling with a pair of opposition forwards with the home crowd whipped into a frenzy.
When he and Damian de Allende were named in the starting team to face Leinster last week, the hype went through the roof. That explosive leap into the air to steal that early Ronan Kelleher throw was just a snapshot of the athleticism and power which Snyman was set to bring. Seconds later, he was on the ground looking resigned. The worst fears were realised in recent days. Nothing is certain at the moment but he’d be doing well to make it back for the Lions tour next July. That opportunity for a Springbok only comes around once in 12 years, once in a lifetime for most.
Niall Scannell would have been bouncing into training in recent weeks, buoyed by the knowledge that a heavyweight front five featuring Snyman, Jean Kleyn and Dave Kilcoyne was in his corner. All three are out of action and now the Munster hooker must step up. Rallying around the stricken South African has been top of the agenda this week.
‘I texted him on Monday and he told me the news which was really disappointing,’ said Scannell.
‘I know the man is a monster and, as we have seen over the preseason, a physical freak but he is a young man as well and that’s... someone like me in the squad who is quite senior now, you have to recognise that as well.
‘He has come from halfway across the world as a young guy and he was probably very excited about putting his best foot forward for Munster and now this has happened to him. You’re probably looking after him more as a mate at the moment.
‘He probably can’t do anything as an athlete until he gets his operation. I’m actually shocked at his outlook, to be honest. He seems to be such a positive guy.
‘We’ve only known him a few months but that is great to see. He doesn’t seem too down about it and he is going to attack this. He was in the building for the first time today and we could console him but he seems so positive. I just hope his rehab goes to plan but it is a disaster for him. Some of the things he had been doing in pre-season were athletically freakish and I was just excited to see him out there in the Aviva.
‘I don’t know if you noticed it, but he took off on that first kickchase and in fairness to Robbie Henshaw he stepped. If he hadn’t stepped I don’t know what would have happened to him!
‘We were all excited but it just hasn’t happened and I am sure he will work on other areas of his game and we will get an even better athlete when he gets back.’
Munster will back the likes of Billy Holland, Tadhg Beirne and Fineen Wycherley to step up at lock in the coming months. There are also young tyros like Thomas Ahern and Paddy Kelly waiting in reserve. They couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Snyman, going forward.
‘One hundred per cent,’ Scannell agreed. ‘RG seems like an unbelievably positive guy and he just wants to contribute.
‘It’s probably one of those things, where he is trying to get over a huge disappointment.
‘I’m sure as he gets that operation and that initial rehab in, he will start getting back involved. He will get a hold of more things because he was just catching up in terms of lineout and stuff.
‘He will be out on the training park watching us and I know it’s in his nature anyway, he is going to help those (young) guys out.’
‘It is a disaster for him but he still seems so positive’